14:33 Down Royal

Friday 26 December 2025

All11:4012:1512:4813:2313:5814:3315:08

BAR 1 Betting Hunters Chase

Off time: 14:33 | Winning time: 6m 16.70s

Asphalt Cowboy^p⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M N Sharpe⁽⁷⁾| T: S G Carey| D

28/1

Has won two of four chase starts including last time in 8-runner chase at Downpatrick (4/1) 217 days ago, with course seeming to suit. Returns over shorter distance.

Form: 321P-13

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Big Interest^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: D M Christie| CD

14/1

Won this race last year but pulled up in a chase at Fairyhouse (4/1) 35 days ago when reportedly returning with mucus in his nostrils. Returns to the scene of a previous course and distance success.

Form: P31P-4P

Bold Fury^h³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T C Kileff⁽⁷⁾| T: W R Crawford| D

28/1

Second in a Chase at Down Royal (19.6f) in March, but tailed off in 5th of 9 when 5/1 at Fairyhouse (24f) 35 days ago. First run for new trainer. Tends to take a keen hold in his races.

Form: 212-325

Cadoudal Saint^t1³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr N McParlan| T: Gerald Quinn| D

18/1

Last seen when fourth of 15 in maiden hurdle at Tipperary (3/1) 590 days ago, reportedly making a noise. First run for new trainer. Wears tongue strap for chase debut.

Form: 212F-11

Carnfunnock⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr S Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 121| C| D

12/1

Winless in 10 starts since March 2023, pulled up in 14-runner hunters' chase at Punchestown (12/1) 238 days ago after being taken wide.

Form: 2116P-1

City Chief^p²³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁵⁾| T: Cormac Abernethy| OR: 133| D

40/1

Showed useful form at Cheltenham in 2023 before pulling up in a field of 8 in a hurdle race at Uttoxeter (6/1) 587 days ago. Returns after a lengthy absence for a new trainer and needs to bounce back.

Form: 6P/P031-

Con's Roc³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Allen⁽⁷⁾| T: T O'Brien| D

15/8

Made a winning debut in a maiden chase at Limerick (6/1) on soft ground. Won again in a conditions chase at Fairyhouse, beating 8 rivals by 17 lengths (9/4 favourite) 35 days ago, jumping well and clearing away from 3 out. Very much the type to contest top races in this division come spring.

Form: 211/12-1

Fountain House^p1³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr E Mahon⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian McCarthy| D

12/1

Won twice in hunter chases earlier in 2025 before finishing third of 9 at Fairyhouse (6/1) 35 days ago when shaping as if better for the run back up in trip. First-time cheekpieces replace tongue strap today.

Form: 41111-3

Galon De Vauzelle^p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss P Elvin⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 121| D

66/1

Won a soft ground Chase handicap at Listowel 454 days ago, but finished 14th of 16 in a hurdle at Leopardstown (16/1) 298 days ago, weakening after disputing the lead. Returning with cheekpieces replacing blinkers.

Form: 0000-21

Hollow Games^t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr A J Lord⁽⁷⁾| T: A Lord| OR: 143| C| D

50/1

Not won for over 3 years; finished third of 14 in conditions chase at Punchestown (20/1) 238 days ago, making the places but well beaten. First run for new trainer; blinkers removed; has previous course win but needs to recapture form.

Form: 45223-3

Its On The Line²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: E Mullins| OR: 139| CD

16/5

Useful hunter chaser who has won 8 of 17 starts, including once at this course and distance. First of 14 in a conditions chase at Punchestown (10/11f) 238 days ago, asserting close home after idling when hitting the front. Remains one of the top performers in the hunter chase division.

Form: 1/2321-4

My Life Be Like⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D M Christie| D

20/1

Pulled up in 6-runner chase at this track (2/1) 235 days ago on racecourse debut, reported to have had breathing problems. Making second start at big odds.

Form: 2111-P1

Ontheropes^p,t²⁰⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr C Mullins⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 140| D

50/1

Third of 15 in chase at Listowel (13/2) 207 days ago, jumped better than previously in reapplied headgear/tongue strap. Poor jumper who typically races off the pace. Without a win in 16 races.

Form: 2804-43

Squire Ohara^p1,t²¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr A Coonan⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 90| D

80/1

Second of 11 in hunter chase at Punchestown (25/1) then fourth of 7 in maiden chase at Downpatrick (3/1) 217 days ago. First run for new trainer. First-time cheekpieces might help sharpen up.

Form: 23212-4

The Goffer^t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Alan O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 134| BF| D

9/2

Winless in 19 starts but finished second of 15 in conditions chase at Punchestown (9/4) 33 days ago, keeping on well after chasing leader between last two fences. Should be competitive at this level based on recent form.

Form: 435-012

Willitgoahead²³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Josh Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| D

15/2

Won at Thurles last January and ran promising third at Cheltenham in March. Pulled up in hunter chase at Punchestown (9/1) in field of 14, 238 days ago when making bad mistake first and struggling badly. Best not judged on latest effort, capable of better remembering NH Festival form.

Form: 12130P-

Non-Runners

Panda Boy²⁶

Weight: 12-0| Age: 9

T: M Brassil J: Reserve 1

Now Where Or When³⁴

Weight: 12-0| Age: 10

T: S R B Crawford J: Reserve 2

Folly Master³⁴

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: Tom Dreaper J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Con's Roc (15/8), Its On The Line (16/5), The Goffer (9/2), Willitgoahead (15/2), Carnfunnock (12/1), Fountain House (12/1), Big Interest (14/1), Panda Boy (14/1), Cadoudal Saint (18/1), My Life Be Like (20/1), Folly Master (25/1), Bold Fury (28/1), Asphalt Cowboy (28/1), City Chief (40/1), Hollow Games (50/1), Ontheropes (50/1), Now Where Or When (50/1), Galon De Vauzelle (66/1), Squire Ohara (80/1)

CON'S ROC looks a serious prospect having bolted up by 17 lengths at Fairyhouse last month, jumping well and clearing away impressively. This exciting young chaser can cement his status as a rising star in the hunter chase division. Its On The Line, a course and distance winner with an excellent record, remains the main danger, while Willitgoahead's Cheltenham Festival form gives him solid claims.